The Flying Fijians have secured the top spot in the Pacific pool of the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup after a commanding 50-19 victory over Tonga in Nuku’alofa on Friday.
As a result, Fiji will advance to the semi-finals in Tokyo next weekend, where they will face either Japan or the USA from the Asia pool. Manu Samoa will join them as the runner-up from the Pacific.
Fiji’s captain, Tevita Ikanivere, who also scored a try during the match, emphasized the need for improved discipline to secure the win. He mentioned that the team had let Tonga back into the game midway through the first half and acknowledged the importance of maintaining discipline after they had a strong start.
“We discussed discipline, especially towards the end of the first half when we allowed Tonga back into the game,” he stated. “We had a bye week last week and prepared thoroughly for this match, fully aware that facing Tonga on their home ground would be challenging.”
On the other hand, Tongan captain Ben Tameifuna expressed pride in his team’s efforts and thanked his players for their resilience. He noted that their young squad is on a learning path and that this match serves as a pivotal experience for them.
“Our focus is to provide opportunities for our young players to showcase their skills,” he explained. “This is a valuable experience for them.”
The Flying Fijians began the game strongly, racing to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Tonga responded as Fiji was reduced to 14 players due to a yellow card.
Iosefo Masi, Ikanivere, and Elia Canakaivata each scored early tries, contributing to Fiji’s total of seven tries in the match. Tongan flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini capitalized on a penalty to score, bringing the score to 19-7, while Fine Inisi later added another try for Tonga, narrowing the gap to 19-14.
As the game continued, Tonga applied pressure and managed to equalize at 19-19 with a try from Pellegrini. Nevertheless, Fiji regained their lead just before halftime, with Canakaivata scoring to make it 26-19.
The second half saw intense competition for possession. Fiji soon extended their lead with a penalty kick by Caleb Muntz and a try by replacement player Inia Tabuavou. Masi later scored an intercept try, sealing the match at 50-19.
Crown Prince Tupouto’a and about 4,000 Tongans were present to witness the historic game, which celebrated 100 years of rugby between the two nations. The win also marked a special birthday celebration for Captain Ikanivere, who received a cake from the Fijian community after the match.
Looking ahead, both teams will travel to Japan on Monday, with Fiji set to compete in the semi-finals and Tonga facing Canada in the fifth-place playoff.